Another explanation is that "trolls" deeply disagree with a common view that's put but can't adequately find a way to explain what it is they actually mean so as to give the debate fresh legs.

As they tend to continually use, past its use-by date, the last successful rebuttal technique that they either coined themselves or borrowed from elsewhere, they're given a label. Probably the correct criticism of such people is that their arguments are growing stale because they are not thinking for themselves or moving with the times.

And I think, Foxy, you're right when you say that people accuse others of being trolls because they want to gain exclusivity to the debate. That is, their own bias is being brought to bear, quite possibly in proportion to the bias on the other side.

Thanks for the honourable mention, Banjo!

By the time I get round to calling anyone racist, a thread contains so many sneering accusations that multicultural zealots want to turn Australia into a Muslim theocracy, and the condemnation is limited to such a specific group, while ignoring so many others, that to ignore the volume of racism involved would be embarrassingly naive.

If posters wish to state that they hate brown people for being brown people, and will not tolerate their presence under any circumstance, I will defend that as free speech, and at least everyone knows where they stand. But to disguise that sentiment with facile, legalistic arguments is an insult to all of us, and the bigotry behind it must be stated before any factual debate can take place.

Besides, to my recollection I've only ever called one OLOer racist. That particular poster's comments on foreigners are so consistenly vituperative, judgemental and riddled with tacit arguments for white racial supremacy that it's impossible for anyone with a functioning moral compass to respond without acknowledging the glaring race hatred.

If bringing racism into the open generates anger, that doesn't have to mean it's trolling.

AS
Even in Greek there are manners and respect for others. Trolling is when a person simply makes insulting remarks with no intention to debate a point.
I think that a person can make a point without being deliberately rude. Nor does that person need to be insulting.
Remarks like "Rudds crap" is rude and doesn't allow a person to feel comfortable in disagreeeing with you. Besides it isn't fact it's simply rubbish,nonsense. You can say I disagree with rudd because..... this is acceptable.

How would you define 'Trolling' Foxy foxy foxy. I am so surprised at you, and i thought you were smart?

Its easy! First you attach the appropriate lure, then you drag it behind the boat and space it carefully at the required distance.

Ho! Silly me. I thought you talking about fishing, but as irony would have it, as it works in similar ways to provoke the fish to bite, trolling in human sense causes the same reaction to take place but its obviously not the appropriate form of action in such a high caliber site such as this one.

But sometimes its the best way to provoke an emotional response especially when persons just beat around the bush with empty words.

EVO

Antonios said that "heated debates," should be
allowed - because to a Mediterranean the heat -
is the soul of a debate.

I've got some Russian (slavic) blood in me from
my Gran. so I can understand that.

However there is a line
between arguing about something passionately,
and being mean-spirited, insulting, and hurtful
to others, that I feel should not be crossed.
And when that line is crossed, I automatically
become suspicious - that the other person is
deliberately "trolling," to provoke a reaction
from me. And I've predictably bought into it
many times, only to find out that - the people
in question actually believed what they were
saying. And simply viewed anyone who argued with
them as "the enemy."

I've learned that infantile finger-pointing
doesn't achieve anything
constructive. I now try not to degenerate into mass
disrespect for the rights of others to hold opinions
different from my own. Although I still find myself
capable of reacting,
when the right buttons are pushed.

Of course I'm not advocating that we agree on everything,
that would make OLO boring. We can, and should
disagree vehemently - but appropriately. I personally
feel that disagreement must be respectful, or the
disrespect ends up poisoning us more than the either
side's position in the argument ever could.

examinator
If some one used to use the word "crap" he will use this word for you or for me or anyone else.
Do you mean we will block him of cause this word?
I thought we encourage people to express their self, to express their thoughts, their ideas and the best way to encourage them
is to show an understanding, to accept the way they use to express their ideas.
At the end I am afraid we will block the others for their ideas using as excuse the "trol".
WE ARE CREATING A MONSTER TO BLOCK THE IDEAS WE DO NOT LIKE!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide